Summer 2027 Internship - Experimental Lasers (Graduate)
About The Position
Xcimer Energy is developing inertial fusion energy using new laser architecture, with the goal of deploying fusion power plants to support global decarbonization. The Experimental Lasers Graduate Intern will own a scoped experiment on pulsed laser systems and diagnostics that support excimer laser development, taking it from an initial model and test plan through to measured results. The intern will be paired with a mentor in the Experimental Lasers group and assigned a project suited to their research background. This is a full-time, onsite, 12-week summer internship based at Xcimer Energy’s headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The intern will work with Experimental Lasers staff and optical and controls engineers, and present and document experimental results for the team.
Requirements
- Be enrolled in or admitted to an MS or PhD program in physics, optics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
- Have hands-on research or thesis experience using lasers or optical systems.
- Have clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical results.
- Be available to work full-time onsite in Denver for all 12 weeks.
- Be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
Nice To Haves
- Hands-on experience operating pulsed lasers or performing nonlinear frequency conversion.
- Demonstrated ability to calibrate energy, temporal, spectral, or beam-profile diagnostics and analyze data in Python, MATLAB, or similar.
- Skill working safely with vacuum systems, high voltage, or Class 4 lasers.
- A track record of independently planning and running experiments from alignment through data analysis.
Responsibilities
- Own a scoped experiment over a 12-week cycle: define the question and success criteria, write the test plan, run the experiment, and report the result.
- Build first-order physics models from the literature to size experiments and interpret data.
- Assemble, align, and operate pulsed laser systems and beamlines with Experimental Lasers staff and optical and controls engineers.
- Design and calibrate pulse diagnostics, and quantify measurement uncertainty.
- Present results at team reviews and a company-wide Lunch and Learn.
- Document experimental work so the team can build on it.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Basic and supplemental life insurance.
- Short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption.
- 401(k) with company matching of up to 6%.
- Equity for eligible employees.
- Flexible Paid Time Off (ATO).
- Paid sick time.
- 13 company-paid holidays.
- Annual paid company shutdown.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
